What if the residents of a street could collectively decide to build more homes on it - and share directly in the benefits? That's street votes. In our new paper with @LabourTogether we set out how community-led street votes could help @SteveReedMP build 1.5 million new homes. labourtogether.uk/all-report… Street votes let neighbours come together, work with an architect, agree a new plan for their street, and vote. If they say yes, building happens with their consent, on their terms, with benefits flowing to the people who already live there. Building in towns and cities is vital - it adds much-needed homes where people want to live, it’s more sustainable and it grows a more resilient local economy. But building in cities and towns is difficult. Under street votes, instead of builders, councils, and residents fighting each other, the community can push for more homes themselves. And because ordinary people are driving the change on small sites, new homes can be built faster than the big schemes relying on big developers. Street votes learn from international schemes that have delivered tens of thousands of homes a year in cities like Seoul and Tel Aviv. Applied here, the evidence suggests up to 30,000 new homes a year in the places we need them most - with the first homes delivered before the end of this Parliament. Much of the work has already been done to put communities in the driver’s seat with street votes. MHCLG just needs to implement the rules. In this paper, @1jamesHowat, @KaneEmerson & @dc_lawrence set out the final steps that the Government should take to build thousands of new homes with popular support.

Housing is one of the biggest drivers of Britain’s poor standards of living. We’re delighted that @YuanfenYang, Labour MP for Earley and Woodley, co-founder of the Living Standards Coalition, and secretary of Tribune Group has endorsed street votes.

Chris Curtis, Labour MP for Milton Keynes North and co-chair of Labour Growth Group, is a tireless advocate for more and better homes. We’re extremely pleased that he has expressed his support for street votes.

Street votes have also been supported by a wide range of progressive think tanks, policy organisations and campaigns.

.@tom_chance and @CommLandTrusts know how important local communities are to delivering homes and the high barriers for community land trusts to create affordable plans.

Green Alliance wrote in support of street votes because higher densities in our existing cities are one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis.

Mirte co-founded the Carbon Balance Initiative. Street votes will deliver homes in places that are best for communities and the climate: in our existing cities close to good jobs and public transport.

Bishop @Guli_FD supports the potential for street votes to help local people become leading voices for positive change in their area.

Both @b_judah and @issywaite66 back street votes because of the huge benefit they can bring to local communities and their power to deliver new homes.

Labour Together’s Director of Devolution, @JP_Spencer_, on why giving local communities more say matters.”

Housing associations are part of Britain’s vital social housing backbone. Street votes have been endorsed by leading voices at some of the largest HAs in the country.

Senior planning lawyers have backed street votes for their ability to help unblock planning and get local residents to say yes to new homes.